Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Still think the Seattle Mafia is insignificant to people who live in the Midwest or New England? Well check out the latest news from Bill Gates' favorite school district. If you're really pressed for time, scroll down to the last paragraph, where you'll find the punch line.

Today's edition of the right-wing Seattle Times features an ominous headline:

Let me first put things in perspective for you. The Seattle School District is a cesspool of corruption; I'm talking hard core crime. The administration could be compared to George W. Bush's cabinet – or Obama's.

The endless corruption – along with rising property taxes – makes some people leery of voting for multi-million-dollar school levies. No problem: The Seattle Mafia has worked hard to make sure that levies get passed. If people vote NO, the levy just gets resubmitted until they vote YES.

Ever greedy for more money, the bastards recently unveiled a new trick: After citizens approved the latest school levy, they said they needed still more money and were therefore submiting ANOTHER levy. Then they decided it was safe to reveal their latest mega-scandal.

I'm not going to get bogged down in the details. It's the same old story of cronyism, with scumbags taking money that's supposed to go to students and giving it to their corrupt friends. You can find some more information courtesy of the Seattle Times' inbred sibling, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

The school district's website reveals that two of the main characters, Silas Potter and Fred Stephens, were well honored for their role in helping minorities and women (while screwing children).

Silas Potter has apparently gone into hiding, following in the footsteps of so many Seattle Schools administrators before him. But former executive facilities director Fred Stephens followed a more interesting path.

Stephens also served as deputy chief of staff under Governor Gary Locke, probably the most corrupt governor in Washington State history. As you may have heard, Obama appointed Locke as head of the Department of Commerce. Care to guess who Fred Stephens' new employer is?

That's right, the Dept. of Commerce. Unfortunately, Stephens isn't available for comment right now.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn says he can’t remember if he voted for or against charter schools the last three times charter school measures have been dangled before voters. Nor does he seem to know if he supports them now - at least officially.

“It’s kind of like the Microsoft Connector bus from Seattle to that company’s headquarters, he said, saying he wonders why the city isn’t running that as a public service instead.”

Yes, Mike, the Microshaft Connector bus sounds like an awesome education model, and it will undoubtedly be even better after you force taxpayers to subsidize it.

But there's more good news on the horizon: The people who REALLY run the state of Seattle (aka Washington) want to take away your right to vote for an education chief. That’s right, Governor Chris Gregoire is spearheading a movement to transform the Superintendent of Public Education (SPI) into a cabinet-level position. The Governor could then appoint anyone he or she wants (Panel hears bill to take state schools chief off ballot).

Gregoire’s logic is simply brilliant:

“Gregoire said the people of Washington hold her accountable for state education, despite the separately elected superintendent.

“‘If the public is holding me accountable, make me accountable,’ she said.”

Senators and other interested observers had less than a day to read Gregoire’s 97-page bill during the Senate committee hearing. Business as usual.

Among the staunchest critics of the move is a convicted drunk driver, WASL champion and union whore extraordinaire, Randy Dorn. He’s also the incumbent SPI.

Senator Rosemary McAuliffe, chair of the Senate Education Committee, is on Gregoire’s side. I exchanged words with McAuliffe at a political forum during my last bid for public office. She's one helluva whore.

But the most ironic champion of giving away your right to vote is the League of Education Voters.